Changing from Permanent Resident to Highly Skilled Professional Visa in Japan

In Japan, it is possible for a foreign national who already holds Permanent Resident status to change to a Highly Skilled Professional (HSP 1b) visa (1a, 1c). In practice, this step is most often considered by permanent residents who wish to invite their parents from overseas to Japan to help with childcare for a young child.

In many cases, the structure is as follows: the individual temporarily changes from Permanent Resident status to a Highly Skilled Professional visa in order to sponsor a parent, and then, once the period of intensive childcare is over, applies to return to Permanent Resident status.

This strategy can be highly effective, but it also involves significant trade-offs. Below we outline the key advantages and disadvantages, as well as related issues for business owners and spouses, so that families can make an informed decision.

1. Pros and Cons of Changing from Permanent Resident to Highly Skilled Professional

1.1 Advantages: Ability to Invite Parents for Childcare

The principal advantage of changing from Permanent Resident to Highly Skilled Professional status is that, under certain conditions, an HSP visa holder may invite a parent to Japan to assist with childcare. In some cases, both parents on one side (for example, both of the wife’s parents) can live together with the family in Japan during the childcare period.

• Parents can lawfully stay in Japan to care for a child under the age of seven (up to six years old).
• The arrangement allows a young child to be raised with the support of grandparents.
• Grandparents can also assist with household work during pregnancy, reducing the physical and mental burden on the expecting mother.

For many families, the opportunity for a child to spend meaningful time with grandparents has a value that cannot be measured purely in immigration terms.

1.2 Disadvantages: Work Restrictions and Loss of Permanent Resident Stability

The Highly Skilled Professional visa is a status of residence tied to specific professional activities. It is granted to individuals who are:

• academic researchers or professors,
• corporate employees in highly skilled roles, or
• business managers and executives.

If an HSP visa holder quits their job or otherwise ceases to be an academic, employee, or manager, and more than six months pass without a reasonable explanation or new qualifying role, there is a risk that the immigration authorities will determine that the Highly Skilled Professional status has effectively lapsed. This is a very different risk profile compared to Permanent Resident status, which is not tied to a specific employer or occupation.

Accordingly, one of the key disadvantages of changing from Permanent Resident to HSP is:

• A tighter link between immigration status and employment situation, increasing vulnerability in the event of resignation, redundancy, or business closure.

2. Impact on One-Person Company Owners and Small Business Operators

Many permanent residents operate small businesses in Japan, including so-called “one-person company” structures where the individual serves as the sole director and de facto owner of a closely held corporation.

If such an individual gives up Permanent Resident status and seeks to continue as a business owner under a Highly Skilled Professional framework, they must in practice satisfy the requirements applicable to the Business Manager visa or its HSP equivalent. This generally includes conditions such as:

• a minimum capital contribution (often referenced as around JPY 30 million), and
• employment of at least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national, Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, or the spouse/child of a Japanese national or Permanent Resident.

For small or early-stage businesses, meeting these standards can be challenging. A structure that worked comfortably under Permanent Resident status may no longer satisfy immigration requirements once the individual is classified as a Highly Skilled Professional business manager.

3. Impact on the Spouse’s Status of Residence

Changing from Permanent Resident to Highly Skilled Professional will also affect the spouse’s status of residence.

• Before the change, the spouse may hold a “Spouse of Permanent Resident” status, which allows full freedom to work, run a business, or remain unemployed.
• After the change, the spouse’s status will typically shift to a Dependent (Family Stay) status.

This shift has significant consequences:

• Under the Dependent visa, the spouse cannot freely engage in full-time employment or manage a company in the same way.
• Any work generally requires separate permission for activities outside the scope of the status, and is often limited to part-time work.

In other words, by relinquishing Permanent Resident status, the family may lose a high degree of flexibility and economic independence that previously existed for the spouse.

4. Period of Stay and Renewal Risks

Once a person is no longer a Permanent Resident, they must hold a status of residence with a fixed period of stay and comply with ongoing renewal requirements. For Highly Skilled Professionals, the period of stay is commonly up to five years at a time.

This has several practical implications:

• Regular renewals: The individual must renew the HSP status approximately every five years, submitting updated documentation to show ongoing eligibility.
• Points threshold risk: If the individual’s annual income decreases, or if their situation changes such that they no longer achieve 70 points under the HSP system, renewal may be denied.
• Business Manager requirements: For those acting as business managers, failure to maintain the capital and staffing levels required for the Business Manager component of the status may also jeopardize renewal.
• Home loan and financial impact: Exiting Permanent Resident status may affect a person’s relationship with lenders. In some cases, mortgage interest rates or borrowing conditions can become less favorable once the borrower is no longer a Permanent Resident.

Taken together, these factors mean that the stability and flexibility of life as a Permanent Resident are partly exchanged for a more conditional, performance-based immigration status.

5. When Does It Make Sense to Consider Changing to Highly Skilled Professional?

The decision to change from Permanent Resident status to a Highly Skilled Professional visa should be made with a full understanding of the trade-offs.

In general, this option may be worth serious consideration where:

• The main HSP applicant has no plan to resign in the near future and enjoys a stable, long-term employment relationship or business structure.
• The family’s financial position and professional profile are strong enough to maintain the required HSP points and, where applicable, Business Manager conditions.
• The family places a very high value on enabling the child to spend time with grandparents and on receiving hands-on support from parents during pregnancy and early childhood.

The time during which a child can live closely with grandparents in Japan is inherently limited. In many cases, the emotional and practical benefits of intergenerational support may outweigh the loss of the relative “security” associated with Permanent Resident status.

6. Our Support: From Status Change to “Comeback” to Permanent Residence

Because this strategy touches on both technical immigration rules and deeply personal family decisions, it should be approached with careful planning and professional guidance.

Our office provides end-to-end support for:

• changing from Permanent Resident status to Highly Skilled Professional status,
• inviting parents from abroad under the HSP framework for childcare and household support, and
• planning and executing a future return to Permanent Resident status once the childcare period has concluded.

We also liaise with employers and financial institutions as needed, helping families understand the legal and practical consequences of each step. If you are considering this option for your family, we encourage you to consult with us before making irreversible changes to your immigration status.

Reference: Requirements for Inviting Parents Under a Highly Skilled Professional Visa

Under the current framework for Highly Skilled Professionals, the following conditions must generally all be satisfied to invite a parent for childcare or household support:

• A: Household income of at least JPY 8 million
  The combined annual income of the HSP visa holder’s household must be 8,000,000 yen or more.
• B: Co-residence with the Highly Skilled Professional
  The parent must live together with the Highly Skilled Professional visa holder (and family) in Japan.
• C: Childcare or pregnancy-related household support
  The parent must either:
  • provide childcare for a child under seven years of age for a period of three months or more, or
  • assist with household work for a pregnant family member for a period of three months or more.
• D: Limited to parents of the HSP or the HSP’s spouse
  The parent(s) must be either:
  • a parent of the Highly Skilled Professional visa holder, or
  • a parent of the HSP holder’s spouse.

  It is not permitted to invite both sets of parents at the same time. For example, you may invite only the wife’s parents or only the husband’s parents, but not all four grandparents.

Because the detailed interpretation of these requirements can evolve and individual circumstances vary, it is essential to obtain tailored legal advice before proceeding. Our firm works closely with clients to analyze their eligibility and design a realistic path that balances immigration stability with the invaluable support of extended family.

About the Author

Masakazu Murai
CFP, Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan, Gyoseishoshi (Immigration Lawyer)

Born in 1977, Mr. Murai previously worked in the Investment Banking Division of Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan
Stanley Securities, advising listed companies on equity and debt offerings as well as M&A transactions.
While in investment banking, he also served on the central executive committee of the employees’ union,
promoting diversity in the workplace and better working conditions for foreign professionals and women.

Today he focuses on Japanese immigration procedures for foreign nationals – particularly
spouse visas and permanent residence – together with personal and corporate finance consulting.
His practice frequently combines residence strategy with long-term financial and life-planning considerations.

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